Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-05-02
rs THE YOUNG MAN sAFET'
First of a series OF sermons 10
Young People.

Young People.
Rev. w. j. Chichester commenced a
series of sermons to young people in the
First Presbyterian church, last night.
He found his text in the 18th chapter,
32d verse of Samuel H., where David
makes the anxious inquiry OF Cush',
rs the young man safer" And when
he is told of Absalom's fate, he goes to
his room and is filled with grief that
will not be comforted. Like many young
men of the present day, Absalom was
allowed to follow his own bent, became
headslrong, conceited; was fiattered by
worthless parasites, and committed the
most heinous sins. He debauched his
sister lamar, aud gave such rein to his
licentiousness that finally he rose in
open rebellion against his father.
Many young men Of the present
dey are spoiled. primarily, as was
lAbsoiom BY fathers who are too inasl.
feni, and who, instead OF training them
strictly iu the paths Of virtue, permit
them TO do as they please. The grief of
David a, the violent death of Absolom
was aggravated by the consciousness
that he himself was to blame. Had be
subjected Absolom to rigid training,
held him we'll in hand during the form.
ative period OF his character, he would
not have fallen into evil ways. The fate
of the wayward son and the great grief
of the father are lesson to parents, as
we'll as children, singnificant in its
koaobs,,o, nall to-Ioxr N navids~
time.
The temptations to young men are
very great. They are in greater danger
than young women, for the latter can
walk the streets anywhere without dan
ger. whilst the young men are beset
with danger at every turn. Young wo.
men are go helped about by the conven.
tionalities of society and the influences
of home that she is safe, whilst young
men are in danger because they are not,
az general thing. surrounded |
by similar safeguards. Young men arc
easily led astrsy. Fint, because there
Is tendency to lax home training.
Many fathers are so engrossed In busi- |
ness that they can give 10 time to the
training of their boys. So it was with |
David. He devoted himself SO closely |
to the affairs of state that he found no.
time to give to the direction OF his ia.
vorite sons habits, aud let Absolom fol.
low his own bent, with terrible conse.
quences to both. The second danger to
poupg mon is in their inordinate self
conceit. They know it all. and believe
themselves too smart to need any coun-
sci. Their third danger is in their i'm.
patience of control. They will not be
guided, nor will they suffer themselves
to be restrained from their vices or their
pleasures. Rebellious to their parents,
It is easy for them to become rebellious
to the rules of society, and from that to |
disregard for the laws of the State. The
fourth danger is one that be-
gets all the other evils into
which they fall, and that
for the frugaiities of a well directed life,
and tendency to live luxuriant, no
matter az whose expense. This encour-
ages looseness of principle. and foal'
ly wrecks the young man completely.
Ministers could accomplish much more
than they do with young men. II they
both understood each other better.
Youns men will not show their best
side to the preachers, and the preachers
don't show their human side to the
young men. Therefore there is no
confidence. no sympathy between them.
Nothing but suspicion and cold reserve
on one side and harsh judgment
on the other. 1t was Sidney
Smith who said that the
human family was divided into three
sexes-mep, women and preachers.
Young men looked upon preachers as q
class distinct aud separate from them.
selves, and hence great many pastors
could exercise but little, if any. influence
upon young men. Thus the temptations
Of the world were constantly driving
them from the right path, and the lack
of sympathy between them and the min
issers rendered their efforts futile in
drawing them to Christ. We may well
inquire, in the words Of our text, "Is
the young man safer" when we see the
many difficulties and temptations in his
way. He il not safe. There is but one
refuge of safety for him, and that is to
throw himself into the arms of esus.